The American journal of emergency medicine
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The presentation of aortic dissection in the emergency department may be more subtle than the classic description of a shocked patient with "ripping" chest pain. The epidemiology, variation in presentation, investigation, and management of aortic dissection are reviewed.
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Tension pneumoperitoneum (TPP), the accumulation of free intraabdominal air under pressure, is a rare event. TPP usually occurs from bowel surgery or bowel perforations. ⋯ The cases of 2 patients with TPP after blunt trauma are reported. The pathophysiology and management of TPP are discussed.
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Eritrea became a member of the United Nations in 1993, after a devastating 30-year war of independence with Ethiopia. Although Eritrea suffers from many of the problems beset by the developing world, the people are determined to rebuild their country. Emergency medical care and emergency services are in their infancy, yet the signs of progress are already visible in the capital city of Asmara. This report describes the current state of the prehospital system and emergency medical care in Eritrea.